booktalesy Chapter 342 Formal Visit
Chapter 342 Formal Visit
(Two chapters~)
October 31, 1990. 4:11 PM.
In Tokyo at the end of October, the days are as short as a hasty promise.
When the black Century sedan stopped outside the Saionji family's house, the light had already begun to turn gray.
After the engine was turned off, the air inside the car remained still for three seconds.
Yoshio Sumitomo moved first. He didn't push the door open immediately, but instead placed his hands flat on his knees, his gaze passing through the windshield and landing on the heavy lattice wooden door in front of him. (Sukiya door style)
The wooden door has a dark brown grain, and the lacquer has a warm sheen in the afternoon light. Stone lanterns stand on either side of the door, with moss creeping up from the base to the openwork of the lantern's belly.
This was his first time visiting the Saionji family's residence.
Although I had visited those two in Karuizawa before, it was a private meeting, which was different in nature and could not be considered a real visit.
Today is different.
He's here to hand over something today.
"Father." Sumitomo Takamichi's voice broke the silence.
His features bore a resemblance to Fang Fu, but his lines were more defined, and his jawline was tightly clenched, as if he were constantly biting something.
"Wasn't everything settled in Karuizawa that night? Why make another trip to Tokyo?"
Fangfu didn't answer immediately. He reached up and straightened his collar, adjusting the gap between the second button of his suit jacket to be perfectly straight. Then he opened the car door.
The sound of leather shoes stepping on stone steps was steady.
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3. He didn't speak until he reached Level 7, his voice very low, as if he were talking to himself.
"Longdao, you must remember, matters between powerful families are never settled with just one discussion."
Longdao followed half a step behind him, his pace slightly off-beat from his father's.
The neatly trimmed holly bushes on both sides of the stone steps swayed gently in the wind, their leaves rustling as they brushed against each other.
Yoshio continued, his eyes fixed on the approaching wooden door ahead: "That night in Karuizawa, it was our hand that reached out when we were in trouble. They accepted it, but didn't sign anything."
"Now the audit has reached its most critical stage. Mr. Endo has already exposed Ito Man's problems in Osaka."
"Bai Shui will go crazy if he finds out we've let a wolf into the house."
"If at this point, the main family still only sends Kawase to deliver the message—" Yoshio stopped and turned to face Takamichi.
Sunlight slanted in from behind him, casting a shadow on his face, revealing only two faint points of light deep within his eye sockets. "The Saionji family thinks we still want to hide in the back and push all the dirty work onto them."
Longdao fell silent. He could hear his own heart pounding in his chest, one beat after another, heavy and deep.
"But the manufacturers like Uchida, Murata, and Kawaguchi are now fence-sitters." Yoshio stepped forward again. "They're waiting for the main family's attitude."
"If the main family doesn't show up, the Saionji family's private banquet won't have any significance. And the manufacturing industry won't follow suit."
As they approached the wooden door, Yoshifu raised his hand.
His fingers stopped just before touching the door knocker, hovering in mid-air.
The sunlight stretched his hand shadow, casting it onto the mottled texture of the wooden door.
"Think carefully—" Yoshifu turned his head, his gaze falling on Ryudo's face, "We're not here today to express gratitude, nor to apologize. We're here to present the 'Blood Judgment.'" (To show their complete sincerity, those who swear an oath will place their blood seal on their names, known as the "Blood Judgment.")
The door was pulled open from the inside.
Fujita Tsuyoshi stood behind the door, dressed in a black butler's uniform, his posture ramrod straight.
His gaze first swept over Yoshio, then over Takamichi, and finally landed on the black car behind them, lingering for half a second.
"Mr. Sumitomo, Mr. Takamichi." Fujita bowed slightly. "Please."
Fujita led the two through the courtyard.
The garden of the Saionji main family was meticulously arranged, but Ryudo showed no appreciation whatsoever.
He couldn't quite describe the feeling, but he always felt like someone was watching him. However, when he looked around, there were no cameras.
He could only attribute this feeling to the illusion of nervousness, looking at his father in front of him.
After entering the courtyard, his father didn't speak to him. He couldn't help but think about the people he was going to see later—besides the head of the Saionji family, it was that young lady.
Marriage.
Since his father's conversation with him on the train to Karuizawa, the matter had never been mentioned again. After meeting that young lady, Takamichi himself felt that it was highly unlikely; he was simply overestimating himself with his abilities.
But the moment he crossed paths with the Saionji family again, this matter once more occupied his mind.
Will Father bring up this idea directly this time?
No, that's impossible. Sumitomo is currently in a subordinate position; proposing a marriage now would only appear presumptuous and impolite.
What happens after that? Will the family encourage you to work hard?
To be honest, he always felt that young lady was... creepy. She always had that fake smile, and he felt she was the type who would trample on people and humiliate them...
The footsteps that stopped ahead interrupted Longdao's thoughts.
At the entrance to the main house, Fujita stopped and stepped aside to let him pass.
He didn't go in, but stood outside the lattice door with his hands hanging at his sides, his posture respectful yet distant.
The reception room is on the second floor. It's an eight-tatami room with shoji doors that are half-open, revealing a dark blue tatami mat inside.
The low table was lacquered black, its surface so shiny it reflected the washi paper lanterns on the ceiling.
The lanterns cast a warm yellow light, providing a soft glow, but they didn't reach every corner of the room—the four corners were shrouded in a faint shadow. (Even the villains can't afford the electricity bill, lol)
Shuichi sat in the main seat. He wore a dark blue kimono with a black haori over it, and a snow-white yuban was visible at the collar.
He sat in a relaxed posture, his back slightly leaning against the alcove, his right hand resting on his knee, his fingers not holding anything.
Satsuki sat to the side.
She was wearing a light purple dress today, with extremely fine silver vine patterns embroidered on the neckline. Her hair was styled in a bun, revealing a long and fair neck.
She didn't look at the doorway, but her gaze fell on the Satsuma ware teacup on the low table. Thin wisps of steam rose from the rim of the cup, indicating that it was freshly brewed sencha.
Fangfu stopped at the doorway, stood outside the threshold, and bowed deeply.
His upper body was bent extremely low, almost at a deep 55-degree angle.
Longdao also bowed, his gaze catching the pale purple figure the moment he bent down.
"Mr. Sumitomo, please have a seat," Shuichi said gently.
Yoshio straightened up and entered the room. He sat down opposite him at the low table, with Ryudo sitting half a step to his left. (The seating arrangement, but here it signifies the position of the heir.)
The tea was served. Fujita himself brought it, with three teacups on the tray, arranged according to the order of host and guest.
After he put down the tray, he left, and the shoji door closed silently behind him, leaving only a gap of about twenty centimeters.
Only four people remained in the room.
Yoshifu didn't touch the teacup. He took out a dark blue cloth bag from his pocket and took out three things from it.
The first item was a folded piece of paper. The paper was washi paper, with slightly rough edges, but it was well-preserved, with no damage other than creases.
Yoshifu unfolded the paper and placed it on the low table.
"That night in Karuizawa, I am grateful for your daughter and Mr. Saionji's kindness." Yoshio pushed the paper over, pressing his fingertip against the edge. "This is the supplementary document. The limit and procedure for issuing US dollar letters of credit are all written in the supplementary terms—a maximum of US$80 million, a single transaction period of 90 days, with one extension allowed. Please take a look."
Shuichi picked up the paper and quickly scanned it. His finger lingered on the number "eighty million US dollars" for half a second before turning to the second page to look at the seal at the bottom.
The red square seal bears the four characters "Sumitomo Yoshio" in seal script. The ink has darkened somewhat, but the edges remain clear.
After reading it, he handed the paper to Satsuki.
Satsuki took it. She didn't look at it closely, but her gaze lingered on the key clauses for a few seconds.
Article 3, paragraph 1, regarding the description of the "cross-validation right"; Article 7, regarding the conditions for the "credit protection authorization" to take effect; and the date and signature on the last page.
Then she gently placed the paper on the coffee table without saying a word.
The second item was a directory, bound in stiff cardboard, with the words "Sumitomo Group Corporate Credit Transfer Implementation Directory" printed on the cover.
Yoshifu opened the list and pushed it to the center of the table.
"Ito Man, Sumitomo Chemical, Sumitomo Metal, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Sumitomo Light Metals," Yoshio read out the names one by one. "From this day forward, the cross-verification rights of the trade documents of these five companies are entirely handed over to Saionji without reservation."
He paused for a moment. "This includes all margin transfer records under the third escrow account of the Osaka headquarters, the corresponding letter of credit numbers, and the related warehouse receipt financing transactions."
After he finished speaking, there was a five-second silence in the room.
Longdao could hear the sound of his own breathing.
He looked at his father—Yoshio's face was expressionless, but his jawline was taut, as if he were biting something hard.
He looked across at the other side again—Shuichi's expression was equally calm, but his right index finger tapped his knee.
He looked at Satsuki again—Satsuki was looking at him.
Longdao was startled and quickly lowered his head, but couldn't help but steal glances at the other person.
She didn't speak, but the curve of her lips changed slightly—very subtly, so much so that Longdao wouldn't have noticed it if he hadn't been observing her closely.
The third item is a document.
The document was sealed in a red envelope with the Sumitomo family crest, the "Igi-mon," embossed in gold on the cover. Yoshio placed the envelope on the table without opening it.
"This is the 'Industry Credit Protection Authorization Letter'."
"The seven manufacturing companies under the Sumitomo Group—overseas trade settlement, opening of US dollar letters of credit, raw material import, order fulfillment—" he said, word by word, leaving enough space between each word to allow for a breath, "From today onwards, they will all be entrusted to Saionji Trading Co., Ltd. to act on their behalf in the name of the Sumitomo Group."
He stopped.
The silence lasted for nearly three seconds. His Adam's apple bobbed, his gaze still fixed on the cover.
"This authorization document—" he began again, his voice lower than the previous two, "is for the exercise of authority by Saionji Trading Company—"
He looked up.
His gaze first fell on Xiu Yi's face, then paused for a second.
Then it moves towards Satsuki.
"No need to go through the White Water Meeting anymore."
"And Sumitomo Bank's approval is not required."